(photo credit: ishareimage.com)

The last post, “Beach Stripe” really got me thinking about Summer. Long days, balmy breezes, warmer weather, barbecues, dining al fresco and relaxing days on the BEACH! For me, this is the best time of the year.

 This year the First Day of Summer is June 21, 2015…

After the Winter we had with all the ice, snow and frigid temperatures, Summer is a blessing.

I lived near the beach growing up and it became a second home for me and my friends all Summer. I just loved it. The warmth of the sun and sand and the smell of the ocean. Time just seemed to stand still as you relaxed on your beach towel and took in the warmth of the sun. Radios in the background and a sense of calm coming over you the warmer the rays of the sun were.

It was a procedure to find the perfect spot on the sand. First of all, you had to bring all your supplies, beach towel, radio, suntan lotion, sunglasses, food and beverages.

I remember moving my beach towel a million times just to get the best position of the sun so we could properly bake to a delicate crisp. Only turning when the sun moved or getting up to go in the ocean when the heat was unbearable.

The goal back then, before the skin cancer warnings, was to get the best tan, so we could go out at night wearing white clothing and look our best. Didn’t love the seagulls trying to steal my lunch, but that was part of the day. 

At the end of this post, I have included recipes for two sandwiches that fall into the category of “beach food” for me. These sandwiches have been a tradition in my family for years when it comes to a day at the beach. The recipes are for Potatoes & Eggs and Peppers & Eggs sandwiches on a ciabatta roll.

My mother would always prepare these sandwiches along with her homemade lemonade. Ah, those were the days…It’s just not a day at the beach for me without Potatoes & Eggs and Peppers & Eggs.

But I have to say, even though it is such a simple recipe, it never tastes as great as my Mother’s did, when I was younger sharing a beach blanket with her.

Her sandwiches were magical.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

So now you know that the first thing I think of when you mention Summer is the beach. When I first saw the set of dishes I am using for this post it also screamed “the beach”. A little whimsical for a dish, because these dishes are designed after a beach ball. Who hasn’t played with a beach ball on the beach? As a child, it’s a big deal.

These dishes are fun and I loved the colors. Usually a beach ball has a darker blue stripe along with the red, white and yellow, but I thought that the lighter aqua blue was a nice change; a really cheery color and it also matched one of the charger plates I own. In addition to the beach ball design, the salad plate features matching beach umbrellas in the same colors. 

These dishes are like bringing the beach indoors to the table.

Now that I know which dishes I am using, I have to decide on a tablecloth and napkins. Of course I need to use a color from a beach ball. I chose bright yellow and added solid red woven placemats and aqua blue chargers to highlight the dishes. Not only do the charger plates match the dishes but it also reminded me of both the beautiful sky and the ocean.

This time I am back to the red flatware.

For the glassware, I chose a tumbler with a striped pattern that has all the colors of the dishes. This was a lucky find for me. I went in to the Dollar Store for gardening gloves and came out with drinking glasses.

Don’t the stripes of the glass really pick up the colors of the dishes?

Once in awhile there is a treasure on the Dollar Store shelves; although Bob thinks I can find something to buy for my tablescapes ANYWHERE I go (he might be right).

Believe it or not, I couldn’t find a great napkin ring for this tablescape in my collection of napkin rings; so I used black plastic sunglasses instead. You have to have your sunglasses at the beach, right?

Now for the centerpiece.

This was a tough one. My first thought was of a sandcastle but I knew from the start, that wasn’t happening on my dining room table; so the next best thing was the tools of a sandcastle and every child’s beach gear- “the basic pail and shovel”.

So I bought a red pail and shovel, some play sand and put it all together on my white ceramic cheese board to make it stand out on the table. (You know the drill by now- shop the house FIRST for tablescape items- this time it was a cheese board used as part of the centerpiece).

You can’t have a pail and shovel without some accessories, so I added a few beach toys in matching colors to the centerpiece. 

Here is a close up…

Along with the beach toys, I added a pail and shovel candle at the base of the cheese board along with some sand and shells. 

I had this candle for years and years, since my son was in grade school. It was purchased at a school fair and I only use it as a table decoration each Summer.

The centerpiece is now complete.

I gave Bob the wonderful job of blowing up miniature beach balls as my table confetti instead of using seashells, since I used seashells in the last post.

He really is a good man. He goes along with all my ideas and never complains about anything. Gotta love him.

So now with the tablescape completed, I am really ready to get out of the house and head down to the beach for some sun, sand, seagulls and the mist of the ocean. 

Place Setting

I am very fortunate to still live so close to the beach and I appreciate it every day of the Summer season. 

I think I will have to keep with tradition and bring along some of the “beach food” I grew up with.  After all, it’s not a complete day at the beach without Mom’s sandwiches and lemonade.

Bob and I also find it nice to pack a picnic basket and have dinner on the beach or eat at one of the outdoor restaurants when we are not bringing “beach food” sandwiches.

There is just something so peaceful about the beach and the sound of the ocean.

Thank you for allowing me to share some of my childhood memories of the beach with you. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy this Summer; spend a day or two at the beach and enjoy the warmer weather with family and friends.

Until my next post, stay well and make every day a celebration!

Diane

(Don’t forget the recipes below)

Tablescape Details

Bright yellow tablecloth and napkins from Linens and Things

Aqua charger plates from Homegoods

Red flatware from Homegoods

Red woven placemats from Homegoods

Striped Glass Tumblers from the Dollar Store  

Sunglasses from Oriental Trading

Miniature inflatable beach balls from Oriental Trading

Pail and Shovel & Play Sand from Toys R US

Pail and Shovel candle from a “school fair” when my son was in grade school

White ceramic cheese board from Target

“Beach Ball” dishes by Pfaltzgraff from JC Penney

This year on June 21, 2015 we also get to celebrate another special occasion, and that is Father’s Day.

Happy Father’s Day from DishingwithDiane.com.

To all the Dads, Grandfathers, Godfathers, pet Dads and soon to be Dads.

I hope you enjoy your special day relaxing and surrounded by family, love and happiness. All the Dads will get a special tablescape dedicated to them coming soon. I wouldn’t forget you, but couldn’t post two occasions at once.

RECIPES

Peppers and Eggs Sandwich

For 2 servings

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• Minced garlic – approx. 2 cloves
• 1 medium onion – sliced (I use Vidalia but a yellow onion is fine)
• 2 bell peppers, julienned or chopped– (optional: add an Italian frying pepper (cubanelle)  to the bell peppers.)
• 4 eggs
• Salt
• Pepper
• Romano cheese
• butter
• 2 ciabatta rolls

Directions:

Heat a little oil in a sauté pan

Sauté the onions and peppers, add the garlic and continue to sauté until the onions are translucent and the peppers are al dente – Prepare your rolls while the pepper and onions are cooking.

Melt some butter and coat both sides of your ciabatta rolls, broil for 2-3 minutes. Be careful they do not burn. You want the rolls just a little crispy.

In a bowl, beat the eggs and season with salt and pepper and a generous amount of grated cheese….. (If you use a little whole milk in your eggs when you scramble them, that is fine in this recipe too)

Pour the egg mixture into the sauté pan with the peppers and onions

Cook, until the eggs are done to your liking

Serve on the buttered & broiled ciabatta roll

Optional: for a little kick, add some hot Giardiniera

• Giardiniera is an Italian relish of pickled vegetables in vinegar or oil.

Potatoes and Eggs Sandwiches

For 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. butter, plus more for toasted rolls
• 1 medium russet potato, peeled and cut into ½ cubes
• 1 medium Vidalia or yellow onion. Thinly sliced
• Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper
• Grated cheese
• 6 large eggs
• 4 seeded semolina or ciabatta rolls, split and toasted

Directions:

Heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tbsp. of butter.

Add the diced potato and cook, tossing, until browned and beginning to soften, 5 minutes.

Add the sliced onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the potato is cooked through and the onion is browned but not completely soft, 8 to 10 minutes. 

Prepare your rolls while the potatoes and onions are cooking.

Melt some butter and coat both sides of your ciabatta rolls, broil for 2-3 minutes. Be careful they do not burn. You want the rolls just a little crispy.

Next, beat the eggs in a bowl with grated cheese. (Whole milk can be added if that is how you normally make your scrambled eggs).

Reduce the heat to low and give the pan a moment to cool. Poor in the eggs and cook, stirring constantly, until just set, 3-4 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Serve in the broiled & buttered roll and divide the potato & eggs.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

If you enjoy the posts, please spread the word and ask your family and friends to join.

Either have them “Like” the DishingwithDiane Facebook homepage (blue thumbs up- top of homepage) to get facebook notifications

or follow the blog directly from the DishingwithDiane.com website 

Go to the website for easy one click instructions to join and follow all the fun.(click on the “follow button” on the right side of the page) to get e-mail notifications

or send me an email of a friend you think might be interested and I will send a personal DishingwithDiane invitation out.

Once you join, you’ll never miss a post…

Go and spread the word…

And please, continue to send me your comments, I love hearing from you.